- Emily Pilloton Discusses the Hippo Roller and other Designs for Humanity (Part One)
- Janine Benyus on Biomimicry in Design (Part Two)
- Janine Benyus on Biomimicry in Design (Part One)
- Andy Revkin - Climate in the Obama Age
- Fred Pearce - Confessions of An Eco-Sinner (Part Two)
- Fred Pearce - Confessions of An Eco-Sinner (Part One)
- Chris Goodall - Ten Techs to Save Our Butts (Part Two)
- Chris Goodall - Ten Techs to Save Our Butts (Part One)
Entries for July 23, 2006 - July 29, 2006
Total this week: 109
There's Gold In Them Thar Smelly Hills
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 07.29.06
Patrick Atkins says there is plenty of aluminum in landfills — more aluminum than we can produce by mining ores. He is the director of energy innovation at Alcoa, a large aluminum manufacturing firm. He thinks the same is probably true of gold and copper, which are used in the circuit boards of computers and electronic gadgets. One ton of scrap from discarded PCs contains more gold than can be produced from 17 tons of gold ore--and humans throw away 20 million tons of electronic waste a year. Landfill mining is a fascinating sleeper of an idea that's actually been around for decades....
Farming The Sun: $600,000 A Year
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 07.29.06
Surely Heiner Gärtner is one of the only farmers in Germany, if not most of Europe, who greets the dawn of yet another cloudless day with anticipation rather than angst. On Mr. Gärtner’s 200-acre farm the fields are covered with 10,050 solar panels, which soak up the sunshine and convert it into electricity. The ambient hum in the air is not the sound of insects but of transformers carrying a high-voltage current to the villages nearby. “We’ve had so much sun,” said Mr. Gärtner, 34, a wide-brimmed hat shielding his face from the rays. “It would be better if we could have this much sun with less heat. But you can’t have everything.” Extreme heat actually reduces the efficiency of the solar panels, he said, pointing to a dial that showed the plant was running at 83 percent of its capacity. On cooler days, the panels operate at full capacity....
The Climate Debate Progression
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 07.29.06
Finally, the climate debate tip is right in front of us, and a predetermined outcome in view. The climate science “skeptics” have held sway over the media for decades but at long last seem to be running low on intellectual ammo, if not credibility. And the ‘silent majority’ of scientists are speaking out publicly and boldly: a sign of positive rational change. The ghost of Galileo (pictured) smiles down from heaven as the tower is unlocked. Take the recent example of Naomi Oreskes (see her often cited paper Beyond the Ivory Tower: The Scientific Consensus on Climate Change) who has written an op ed piece for publication in the Wall Street Journal and another, in greater depth, in the Los Angeles Times, which stated: “To be sure, there are a handful of scientists, including MIT professor Richard Lindzen, the author of the Wall Street Journal editorial, who disagree with the rest of the scientific community. To a historian of science like me, this is not surprising. In any scientific community, there are always some individuals who simply refuse to accept new ideas and evidence. This is especially true when the new evidence strikes at their core beliefs and values.” We especially enjoyed her analogy to the scientific consensus process around plate tectonics. Highy recommended reading. Now back to our progression.
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Fhybrid Hydrogen Powered Scooter
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 07.29.06
Will Crijn Bouman of the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands be a name to remember in green design? If his graduate project is any indication, his head is in the right place. As an Industrial Design student at TU Delft, Bouman created a prototype hydrogen powered scooter, which he calls the Fhybrid. The Fhybrid tops out at 65 km/hr (40mph) and has a range of 200 km (124 miles)--the range is extended due to energy recovery during braking. Acceleration is better than the average traditional scooter. The perfect city flitzer, this bike emits no noise nor fumes. It is driven by a 69 Nm motor in the front wheel, and has a unique parking assist capability: the scooter can be powered slowly in reverse to aid slotting it into that last tight spot on city streets. That's the theory at least....
Wal-Mart's Green Horizon: Coming to A Supplier Near You?
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 07.29.06
Fortune Magazine’s August 7, 2006 issue has an 8-page cover story titled “Wal-Mart Saves The Planet”. Even if you’ve read the many posts TreeHugger has had on Wal-Mart within the last year, this story offers some insights you won’t find elsewhere. We were surprised, for example, at the extent to which traditional environmental NGO’s influenced the company’s recent strategy. The key excerpt for us was this one: “The company is so big, so powerful, it could force an army of suppliers to clean up their acts too”. The full text is available on-line here , (but lacking all the nice color photos found in the paper version). Look below the fold for a few additional highlights.
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The Wal-Mart Effect: Fresh Salmon, $ 4.84/lb
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 07.29.06
When this TreeHugger was a kid, salmon was a rare expensive treat, usually smoked on a bagel. Fresh salmon was almost unheard of outside of the seasonal catch. Now salmon is everywhere, all year round- at a Wal-Mart superstore, right across America, it is big, fresh farmed Chilean Salmon and $ 4.84 per pound- a price so cheap it is hard to understand- you couldn’t mail it home for that price.
We learn all this from the Wal-Mart Effect, written by Charles Fishman late last year before Wal-Mart Prez Lee Scott’s latest pronouncements that we have been so happy to promote at TreeHugger here and in John’s post today. The book tries to study the very opaque, inaccessible largest company in the world to see how it works, how it affects us whether we shop there or not, and how it is changing the economy of America and its suppliers all over the world. Although the book does not address the new initiatives that are receiving so much copy, it does lay out good reasons for us to question Wal-Mart’s ability to carry through with them....
Eat Local Food. Um, Except When You Shouldn't.
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 07.29.06
We do go on about the benefits of eating local food. So does Peter Singer in The Way We Eat, , but he points out certain exceptions, where the social good of importing outweighs the benefit of buying local. Rice is a great example- growing it employs thousands of Bangladeshis. It is dense and longlasting so it is cheap to transport by ship. California rice, on the other hand, is "a monsoon crop in a desert state" according to San Francisco author Marc Riesner. Here it is water, chemical and equipment intensive, rather than labour intensive as in Asia. ...
Hemp-baled Houses
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 07.29.06
The other day we highlighted a new book on housing built from hemp. And we suggested that hempcrete, or Isochanvre, wasn’t the only way to construct buildings with the wonder crop. That’s because some folk have been whacking up structures made of hemp-bales. Just like strawbales, but using the stalks of Cannabis sativa, instead of cereal crops. The first to lay claim to this method were the owners of Hempola, who, about four years ago, built a 7,000 square feet octagonal shaped house in Canada’s Ontario. True to their calling they also clad the roof in hemp-based shingles from EnviroShake. A more recent wall raising, using hemp-bales, has been happening on Salt Spring Island, near Vancouver. Hand-built, and rendered with natural pigments, iron oxide and ochre, the house will also be off the grid using a woodstove for heating that will also be channelled through a clothes drying cabinet. Solar and propane gas will provide the other energy needs. Rainwater harvesting and greywater diversion are also a feature of the design. It has also been suggested, though we had trouble finding secondary sources to confirm it, that the last two projects by the Sustainable Building Design and Construction program of Fleming College were using bales of hemp, not straw. But they might not be the easiest material to work with. Glen Hunter notes on his blog of one project he participated in: “It's first time that I've worked on a house built with hemp bales. They're a pain in the ass. The hemp doesn't rip, it's bleeding hard to pierce them and they dull any blade.”Via ::Ontario Hemp Alliance, and the ::Times Colonist....
Lafuma Turn Over a ‘Pure Leaf’
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 07.29.06
Lars, on reading our post on Yvon Chouinard, suggested we might also have a look at the environmental endeavours of French based outdoor company Lafuma. Thanks for the tip Lars. Started way back in 1930, Lafuma, who have annual sales of about € 250 million, turned their attention to the eco aspects of their business back in the the 1990’s. Some of this process became known as the Pure Leaf project. As to be expect they began to offer some greener products, as the pics above show. The pants and shirts use a blend of hemp and recycled polyester. The footwear shown also have uppers of hemp. The Kenema boot, designed for day hiking, was just launched this northern summer. As well as hemp uppers (and laces), it also features vegetable tanned nubuck leather, a natural rubber midsole, and a tongue padded with recycled polyester. A portion of its sales are donated to WWF. The parent company also controls other businesses, like the surf oriented Oxbow, who plan to move 30% of their clothing line to organic cotton by 2008. And yesterday we noted the recycled climbing rope program from Millet, another Lafuma company. Below the fold we take a quick peek at some other changes afoot....
Discovery Channel Shark Week Starts Sunday
by Kyeann Sayer, Nomad on 07.28.06
Sharks have been depicted as man-eaters and killers for centuries. The reality is, however, that of the more than 350 species, only a handful — including the great white, tiger, bull and great hammerhead sharks — pose any threat to humans. In actuality, through habitat destruction and overfishing, we've become more dangerous to sharks than they are to us. And if they were to disappear, all ocean life would suffer.While we know this is true, admit it: the fun of Shark Week is watching those Great Whites chomp at the cages. But the Discovery Channel throws in lots of shark news and conservation info to keep things on the up and up. If your cooling off M.O. involves time in front of the tube, at least you'll walk away with some Cliff Clavin chum - er - trivia of your own to throw around. Tune in Sunday, July 30, at 9 p.m. ET/PT. :: Discovery Channel Shark Week...
Reader Question: Need Help with Kitchen Appliances
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 07.28.06
Reader Wendy Cooper would like some help from the TreeHugger community. Here is her dilemma: "We'll soon be renovating the kitchen of a basement apartment in Scotland. The existing appliances are aging and inefficient and we'd like to acquire a new fridge/freezer and all-electric cooker/range (to run on green electricity).... but I'm not clear on the most energy-efficient solutions. For cooking, which we do lots of, we were considering an induction hob and standard electric oven. But then we discovered that Aga now make a 13amp 2-oven range which uses 220kWhr per week. This would not only do all of our cooking but keep the kitchen (and maybe more of the apartment) warm without the need for further heating - this seems appealing in a naturally cool basement. So that's the Cooking Dilemma: induction vs Aga. The refrigeration is also an issue. (I should say straight off that Sunfrost isn't on the cards because of cost). To save electricity we have considered doing without a freezer and just buying a fridge with a small ice-box. On the other hand, I wonder, is it actually more energy-efficient to have a freezer (and large-ish low-energy consumption fridge) so that cooking can be done in bulk and stored, thus saving the energy used in cooking?? So the Chilling Dilemma. Any Treehugger thoughts would be very welcome indeed. Best wishes, Wendy." Please leave your suggestion or share your experience in the comments. Thank you....
Most Huggable
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 07.28.06
Don't forget to sign up for the newsletter and grab a hold of the RSS feed. Just trying to make your daily greens all that much easier to take. French courts order Greenpeace to remove information on the whereabouts of genetically modified fields… The Green Geek breaks down the environmental costs of clean energy… A leaked memo reveals the coal industry’s latest strategy to scrub their images… A wild iris could offer a desalinization solution to the Gulf Coast… Ecofriend’s 10 most innovative biodegradable products in the world…...
Interview: Robin Charron About Converting a Vehicle to Run On Straight Vegetable Oil
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 07.28.06
We did a short email interview with Robin Charron (thanks to Philippe Telio for connecting us) about his experience converting his diesel truck to straight vegetable oil. Robin lives in Montreal, Canada, and English is not his first language, so grammarians can skip this one.
How did you hear about converting a car to straight vegetable oil (SVO)? Do you know other people who have done it?
The first time I heard about it was in august 2005, when I was on vacation. On television, there was an interview with guys from Québec City, running a Volkswagen on SVO. Before the conversion, I didn't know anybody who had done it. There is information on Internet, but the validity of that information is hard to qualify…...
Bambu's Bamboo Goo
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 07.28.06
TreeHugger sure loves the bamboo, but eventually, even the durable, harder-than-wood surfaces (like floors and cutting boards) can start to tarnish and show some wear and tear. Thankfully, Bambu's Bamboo Goo is there to help clean it up and restore some of its original wonder-grassy luster. Made by the same good people who brought us Lacquerware bowls, natural utensils and other kitchen goodies, the Goo is a natural blend of beeswax, carnauba wax and vegetable-derived ingredients that are all food-safe, and if you've got some old wooden floors, bowls or cutting boards, it'll work on that, too. $12 for an 8 oz. bottle, available at ::Branch via ::Product Dose...
The Next Big Branson Idea: Virgin Fuel
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 07.28.06
Sir Richard Branson has his fingers in all sorts of interesting pies. Some ideas worked out (like Virgin Atlantic Airways -- he's talked about a new fuel for them before) and some fell flat (like Virgin Cola and Virgin Brides), but he's always working on the next big thing, and he thinks he may have found it. With airlines, express trains, and limousine services, his company's contribution to global warming worries him, so along with investing $1 billion in alternative fuels over the next four years, he's also hard at work developing a new kind of fuel which "if we've got it right, it could be a very important breakthrough. We think this fuel will work in cars and trucks and trains within a year. And we're hoping that it might work in commercial jet engines within five years, possibly sooner. So it will be able to work in Virgin Atlantic planes one day." The project will be called (you guessed it) Virgin Fuel, and Branson seems convinced that he's on to something big. No matter how you slice it, a billion dollars for alternative fuel development and the possibility of a new super-fuel is a pretty good thing. ::CNN via ::AutoblogGreen...
Is E85 (Ethanol) Just A Red Herring?
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 07.28.06
James from the Alternative Energy Blog recently wrote an article claiming that ethanol (or, more accurately, E85) is actually a distraction from important technologies like plug-in hybrids and EVs, which actually show promise in reducing CO2 emissions and reducing reliance on oil. He says: "E85 fuel is not the solution. It is not even a part of the solution, it is a part of the problem." He goes on to explain why ethanol will only lead to a continuation of our dependence on oil. The article was inspired by an email exchange with the Engineer Poet. :: Alternative Energy Blog via Auto Blog Green...
Earthtalk: What Ever Happened to Electric Cars?
by TreeHugger on 07.28.06
Dear EarthTalk: I'm familiar with the hybrid cars now widely available, but what ever happened to the purely electric cars that were around 10 years ago? --Peter Zilly, Bellingham, WA
The main problem with the electric cars that reared their heads briefly a decade ago was their ability to only go so far on battery power. Charges lasted just 50 miles or so, so you were in trouble if you needed to go farther or ran out of juice somewhere in-between electric outlets. Hybrids, on the other hand, which have side-by-side electric and gas motors, never need to be plugged in and instead use the motions of their gas-powered engines (as well as those of the car’s wheels and brakes) to keep their batteries charged at all times. And with a huge infrastructure of gas stations, refueling is always as easy as pulling over to fill up....
Sharp’s New Solar Energy System
by Eric Kane, New York, NY on 07.28.06
As concern over climate change continues to grow, there has been a noticeable rise in the number of companies that seek to profit through the development of sustainable technologies. This trend is perhaps most evident in the solar cell industry. However, despite the influx of new solar companies, Sharp, one of the industry’s original players, continues to lead the world in solar cell production. In fact, the Japanese electronics giant has been the leading manufacturer of solar cells since 2000. It also appears as if the company has no plans to relinquish its status as industry leader. Earlier this week, Sharp announced the release of its upgraded residential solar energy system. The system has been modified to allow for integration into all rooftop types. In addition, the new modules incorporate technologies that allow for the generation of up to six times more power compared to conventional models. Finally, the system is equipped with a communication function, which allows for remote monitoring. The new solar energy systems will be available in 3.0 and 4.5kW models. See also ::Inexpensive DIY Solar Power - The $600 Kit and ::First Solar-Powered Recording Studio...
VC Paul Kedrosky on LEDs
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 07.28.06
Paul Kedrosky is a venture capitalist with a sense of humour and a blog that is updated almost as often as TreeHugger. Like TreeHugger, he sees a bright future for LED's and writes about them in Business 2.0. Exerpt: " What opportunities open up when you can create incredibly bright point sources of light? Don't just think about replacing lightbulbs. We can now consider the wholesale elimination of darkness. Funky new ideas are already beginning to appear: Kitchen countertops lit from below. LED-lit gear to make search-and-rescue workers more visible. Solar-powered curtains that light up at night. New lighting opportunities are emerging everywhere, most of them limited only by entrepreneurial creativity. It may have taken more than 100 years for it to happen, but the lighting industry is set for some long-overdue illumination. " ::Business 2.0...
Restaurants Go On the Hundred Mile Diet: Harvest Restaurant
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 07.28.06
What a remarkable meme it is- from nowhere two years ago (well, actually from Alissa Smith and JB Mackinnon in Vancouver) to what is now almost a movement, the idea of the hundred mile diet has taken hold. At some times of year and in certain areas it is easier than others- renowned chef Michael Potters is doing it in his new restaurant in Prince Edward County, Ontario. "moving to the country has provided Michael with a deeper connection to the land and the seasons, enabling him to source more products locally". He offers a hundred mile dinner, paired with the new locally grown (and getting better) wines. He even names the farmers on his website. Hold a table, we're coming soon. ::Harvest sloooow flash website if you are on dialup- why do people do this in a vacation area where so many people are? ...
EU, UK Mandate 'Smart Meters,' Home Energy Ratings
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 07.28.06
Some hybrid car drivers tell us that they get a real kick out of watching the display of their current gas mileage that comes with many of these cars, and trying to beat it by changing their driving habits. The European Union seems to believe that this kind of motivation may work with homeowners, too, and has mandated that "smart meters" be used as replacements when existing home energy meters have served out their useful life. British blogger David Slocombe notes that this EU mandate coincides with a new UK law requiring all British homes to have an energy rating at the time of their sale. Between the two, Slocombe believes that not only individual competitiveness, but old fashioned market forces, will compel Brits to conserve energy at home:...
No Energy Ice Cream
by Bonnie Alter, London on 07.28.06
Here's a way to make homemade ice cream without taxing the environment--no electricity is used. However sustained energy is needed, in the form of elbow grease. Just push, roll or shake (no kicking please) a magic football around for 20 minutes et voila. It's based on thermodynamics--by adding rock salt to the ice it makes the temperature drop to around -10 degrees which cools the ingredients and turns them into ice cream. You can add fresh fruit, berries, honey and make it as healthy as you want. It's a cool and environmentally-correct substitute for an Eskimo Pie. :: Firebox via :: Guardian...
Organic Leather: The Company and The Product
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 07.28.06
What we are looking at here are Hoop Ear Rings for $50 USD and a Tassel Belt for $150. What makes them worthy of interest is that they are made by Organic Leather, who use hides which are predominately from “animals that are organically fed and humanely raised.“ And then tanned with plant based tannins. Note the correlation between the lexicon of both the process and the materials used. Modern tanning tends to be high in chromium IV, a known carcinogen, linked to lung cancer, if inhaled. In contrast to the usual cocktail of chemicals found in the common tanning, or curing of hides, Organic Leather suggest theirs has zero toxicity. “The run off from these tanneries is non-toxic and can go straight out on to the fields.” Aside from using certified and transitional organic hides, they look for reclaimed leather to use in some of their products, like journal covers. Founders, Rowan Gabrielle and Stacie Wickham were at one time both vegetarians, so we assume the aspect of ‘humanely raised’ is well assessed. The line of products includes belts, bags, jewelry, journals and custom pieces. Organic Leather....
Millet’s Recycle and Save - Climbing Ropes, that is.
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 07.28.06
Sorry for the late notice to all the treehugging climbers who live in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland. We only just discovered this today. But if you take your old climbing rope, before the end of July 2006, to one of 120 participating stores, in those countries, French mountaineering company, Millet, will discount € 0,35 per meter towards the purchase of a Millet rope. That's about $22 USD from an average 50m line. You can trade in any brand of nylon climbing rope. Last year Millet recovered over 55,000m of used ropes for recycling. They reprocess the perlon in the ropes, melt it down, and reform it into hangers for their other product lines. The strength and fall arresting ability of nylon ropes diminishes over time, and hanging on to old ropes can be a safety issue in the event of severe fall. This recycling effort is part of Millet’s Mountain Environmental Contribution, which includes clean ups of the mountaineering base camps for the Himalayan mountains of Annapurna, Dhaulagiri and Everest. ::Millet Recycle and Save....
Zerofootprint: To Offset or Not Offset, That is the Question
by Ron Dembo, Zerofootprint on 07.28.06
A UK travel company has accepted that it is not just its customers that are responsible for the emissions produced by their flights, and it now plants a tree for every booking it takes.
Flourishing UK holiday company TravelRepublic has gone one better than simply offering its customers the opportunity to offset the carbon of their air travel – the company has pledged to save a tree for every customer that books one of their flights. Working with international conservation charity World Land Trust (WLT), TravelRepublic is making a donation towards the protection of threatened rainforests for each customer....
Del Forte Denim: Organic, Repurposed, and "Magical"
by Kyeann Sayer, Nomad on 07.27.06
You've heard some variation of it: the best way to make a difference is to do what you're best at, and use it to change the corner of the world you know. Fantasy? Illusion? Not if we're talking about Tierra Del Forte. After six years of work in conventional denim, she knows women's bodies, and she knows construction. "I'm a designer," she says. "That's where my skill set lies. It's amazing to use it in a way that's good." When the good that she's talking about is a commitment to domestic, earth friendly production, it means a bunch of smokin', guilt-free booties on the loose. While supplies last!
Until I picked up my first pair at gominyc in May, I had never uttered phrases like "I love my jeans," "My jeans make me happy," and "My jeans are magical." gomi's Anne Hettinger refers to Tierra as a jeans "engineer" and it fits. (She also advises to go a size smaller than you think you should -- I did and am, well, happily in love with my magical jeans.) Whether it's models at the Catwalk on the Wild Side, or EcoPetal, or friends wandering muggy summer streets, everyone looks amazing in Tierra's creations.
Ask her to dish on how she does it, and the petite creatrix winks, "trade secret." However, she will offer, "Women are curvy. The cut visually mimics what a woman's body looks like, makes it more flattering."
But what exactly are her eco credentials, you ask?
Continue reading this post...
Pellet Stoves Are Back (and Easier than Ever)
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 07.27.06
We first got wind of pellet stoves as a heating alternative last year; extremely efficient, producing very little waste, and using inexpensive fuel, they were a huge hit. A new system promises to make it even easier and more TreeHugger-friendly. As we learned before, most pellets are made from a single fuel source, usually wood or corn; commercially available stoves usually burn one or the other, but not both. A company called Bixby Energy Systems has developed a pellet made from various types of biomass and a stove that can burn all of them. The pellet formula can be customized to use local resources as varied as grape waste, olive pits, almond shells, cotton-gin trash and hog waste; this cuts down shipping and distribution costs, and the requisite pollution that comes with it....
The Heatwave Is On: A Global Warning?
by Alex Pasternack, New York, NY on 07.27.06
Not that you need any more evidence of global warming, but the deadly heatwave now sweeping Europe and the western U.S. looks an awful lot like a smoking gun. What’s valuable if anything about the rising temperatures is that they may raise more than a few sweaty eyebrows, illustrating what can happen most immediately when it gets really hot in here. Though the heat wave isn’t as severe as the one that may have contributed to 15,000 deaths in France 2003, so far France has counted sixty-four heat-related deaths and in the Netherlands, July will probably be the hottest month since temperatures were first measured in 1706. Poland’s agricultural ministry warned that the country’s drought could destroy 20 percent of its grain harvest, while Germany is facing crop losses of up to 50 percent in the worst-hit regions. In Britain, which recorded its highest temperature last week, at 36.5 degrees Celsius, or 97.7 Fahrenheit, a health advisory has been issued warning of dangerous buildups of nitrogen dioxide in urban areas due to the heat. In the U.S., where the first six months of 2006 were the warmest since record-keeping began in 1895, at least 80 people have died from the heat in California, while last week’s blackout in Queens, N.Y. reminded electricity provider Con Ed—and 100,000 customers who had to go without refrigerators and air conditioning—what 100 degree weather can do to a city’s energy needs. While farmers across the country struggled to keep their crops and cattle alive, starlet Lindsay Lohan was sent to the hospital on Tuesday (supposedly) after being overcome by Los Angeles’ 105-degree weather. We knew she was hot, but......
Plant-A-Tree, Cool the Globe with IKEA
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 07.27.06
From serving organic food to challenging further environmental and social responsibility in its designs and business practices alike, IKEA offers more than ubiquitous flat-pack furniture and cheap shelving. As we learned earlier this week, IKEA's got some big plans surrounding their “low price — but not at any price” motto, and to kick things off, they've teamed up with American Forest to plant trees in an effort to mitigate climate change. Each IKEA store will plant enough trees (about 33,100 trees each year) to offset the annual carbon emmisions produced by IKEA staff and visitors driving to the store each year. The trees will be planted in American Forestst Global ReLeaf projects around the US. IKEA is asking its customers to lend a hand; a $1 donation gets one tree planted, and IKEA will match the first 100,000 donations. To help cool things down, visit your local IKEA store, or to donate online, visit americanforests.org and click on "Plant Trees." ::Plant-a-Tree, Cool the Globe, ::American Forests via ::Apartment Therapy: Los Angeles...
Quote of the Day: Peter Doran, Not a Climate Skeptic
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 07.27.06
Peter Doran, a researcher and associate professor of earth and environmental sciences at the University of Illinois, wrote this opinion piece titled Cold, Hard Facts in the New York Times. He is not a global warming skeptic, yet some of his research on Antarctica is (mis)used by many so-called "skeptics" to argue that global warming isn't a problem. Lets hope these people will read it:
Our results have been misused as 'evidence' against global warming by Michael Crichton … and by Ann Coulter… Search my name on the Web, and you will find pages of links to everything from climate discussion groups to Senate policy committee documents — all citing my 2002 study as reason to doubt that the earth is warming. One recent Web column even put words in my mouth. [...] In the meantime, I would like to remove my name from the list of scientists who dispute global warming. I know my coauthors would as well.::Cold, Hard Facts, via Researcher Slams Skeptics' Distortions in New York Times Op-Ed. See also: ::The 4 Stages of Global Warming Denial...
TreeHugger T-Shirt Design Contest: One Day Left
by Sean Fisher, Cincinnati, Ohio on 07.27.06
Time is running out to enter our T-Shirt Design Contest. For your shot at TreeHugger fame and a $400 fortune from 3R Living, send your best TreeHugger t-shirt design to: contest [at] treehugger [dot] com. Remember, you can use the TreeHugger logo (found at the bottom of the original contest post), any slogans you find on the site, and/or graphics and slogans of your own. Make it cool, make it modern and make it witty, your graphic may end up across the chests of TreeHuggers all over the globe. But, we will stop accepting entries tomorrow (7/28) at midnight EST, so be sure to get those entries in!...
Bravo! Coastal Rainforest in British Columbia Now Protected
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 07.27.06
A new victory for the NRDC, ForestEthics, Greenpeace Canada, the Rainforest Action Network and Sierra Club-British Columbia: The government of British Columbia has agreed to protect more than 5 million acres (see map below) of the Great Bear coastal rainforest. It is home to the world's last white-colored Spirit Bears (which the NRDC picked as its logo), and one of the NRDC's first "BioGems" (learn more about that here). But it wasn't easy: The fight for what is one of the largest remaining temperate rainforest in the world started almost 10 years ago in 1997, and we can only congratulate all those who helped; it was a consumer-driven campaign with petitions to local officials, Canadian logging companies and their US clients. The campaign brought six timber companies to the table and resulted in pledges from Home Depot, Lowe's and more than 200 other leading U.S. retailers to stop selling wood products made from Great Bear Rainforest trees....
Off Sardinia, Island Film Festival Educates Locals
by Mairi Beautyman, Berlin, Germany on 07.27.06
Italy has the largest network of marine protected (Marina Protetta) areas in the world, and last weekend, I had the opportunity to check out some of them first hand. Tagging along with Katherine Schwager, a University of California, Santa Barbara doctorate student in marine science, on the Italian island of Sardinia, I met staff from the Consorzio di Gestione Area Marina Protetta Tavolara Punta Coda Cavallo, the local governing agency for the Tavolara Punta Coda Cavallo protected area. Established in 1997, the Tavolara Punta Coda Cavallo area covers about 15,000 hectares of seascapes, and the coastal territories of the Municipalities of Olbia, Loiri Porto S.Paolo, and San Teodoro. I was also able to participate in one of the organization's savvy events, intended to raise environmental awareness: An outdoor film festival, complete with sweeping Mediterranean views. ...
Gadgets That Self-Destruct: "Active Disassembly"
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 07.27.06
Nokia has created a prototype of a cell phone that dissembles itself in two seconds. Today, most cell phones and other small electronics are shredded instead of taken apart for recycling, because the disassembly time is too expensive for the amount of material reclaimed. In contrast, a process called "active disassembly" is all about creating gadgets that can break into their component parts just by being exposed to heat or magnetism. It saves money, and the materials can be recovered more efficiently....
The LumiWall: Solar Glass That Lights Up At Night
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 07.27.06
Imagine a roof that looks like shaded glass by day, but by evening is transformed into an illuminated array of white LEDs. Sharp's LumiWall promises to do this, and it's powered entirely by thin-film solar panels inside the glass. It's like a transparent battery that gets charged by the sun. LumiWalls won’t really generate much electricity for your house — the aim here is to create an aesthetically-pleasing, self-contained illumination device. They will be available in 2007 according to Sharp. :: Sharp via The Green Guy...
Instant Survey: Not Always Easy Being Green
by Erin Courtenay - Madison, WI on 07.27.06
Umbrella Inside Out: Calling All Designers!
by Kyeann Sayer, Nomad on 07.27.06
Do you know an industrial or fashion designer who hasn't yet entered one of our Umbrella Inside Out competitions? Someone who could rock the Cradle to Cradle umbrella category? Or stitch a damn fine couture garment from abandoned or used umbrellas? Well, better ride those summer slackers! The finalists will appear in I.D. Magazine's 2006 New and Notable issue, and the winning garment will get ridiculous loads of press at the Ethical Fashion Show in October! :: Umbrella Inside Out...
TH Blog Love – Our Favourite Greens Of The Week
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 07.27.06
Eco Street: Market Mechanisms for Emissions Trading Full of Holes by Mark Brandon. ‘Although better than the Bush plan of doing nothing, the Kyoto Protocol has its share of problems. The European Union in particular has relied on market mechanisms to achieve the goal of holding carbon emissions to 1990 levels by 2012.’
FiftyRx3: Armour Sans Anguish by Jill Danyelle
Jill brings us more gorgeous fashionable and ethical threads this week. Though we think she’s really come up trumps this time with a new label Armour Sans Anguish. While the label may sound rather serious thankfully the clothes are light and pretty. ...
‘Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act’ Introduced
by Eric Kane, New York, NY on 07.27.06
In a rather unrealistic attempt to address climate change on the federal level, Sen. James Jeffords (I-VT) introduced the ‘Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act’. If passed, the bill would require the United States to reduce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 80% from 1990 levels by 2050. Although the Act calls for mandatory GHG emissions reductions from the automobile and power industries, it does not articulate strategies, such as the always popular cap-and-trade mechanism. Jeffords and his 10 co-sponsors did provide the following GHG reduction targets that use 1990 as a baseline: 27% by 2030, 54% by 2040, and 80% by 2050. The bill would also require annual reductions of 2% between 2010 and 2020. Furthermore, the Act would call for the U.S. to obtain 20% of its power from renewable sources by 2020. Although a bill this dramatic has little chance of gaining majority support, Jeffords suggested that only reductions of this scale would be effective in stabilizing global temperatures. See also ::Global Warming Mug Heats up the Topic and ::"CO2: We Call it Life" ads: We Call it Hysterical...
Greenpeace Catches Kimberly-Clark in a Chain of Lies
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 07.27.06
In the past six months, we've taken note of campaigns by both the National Resources Defense Council and Greenpeace aimed at corporate giant Kimberly-Clark's use of virgin pulp from Canada's boreal forests. Today, Greenpeace released a report showing evidence that, despite its claims to the contrary, the maker of Kleenex tissues and other paper products does use wood fiber from coastal temperate rainforests in British Columbia, as well as from US federal forest lands. Based on this evidence, Greenpeace has not only publicly called the company out on the distance between its statements and practices, but also filed a letter with the US Securities and Exchange Commission asking for further investigation into K-C's statements to its stockholders....
Fast Food Cooking Worse for Air Than All the Trucks on the Road
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 07.27.06
Here is a great statistic to bite into: Cooking four normal sized hamburgers in a fast food joint emits the same amount of VOC's (volatile organic compounds) as driving a current model car for 1,000 miles. (Engelhard) in Hong Kong, "The 9,000 restaurants in HK also contribute to fine particulates and volatile organic substances. Other components of fumes are oils, fats, aliphatic hydrocarbons, poly-aromatic hydrocarbons, aromatic amines, aldehydes and elemental carbon." (read study here) In New Jersey, 16,000 restaurants release 2,226 tons of particulates, more than all of the heavy diesel vehicles in the state (1,329 tons, read study here) In the Bay area of California, they will soon require emission control on all chain-driven commercial grills. (report here) So just like your cars, all restaurants in the Bay area will be equipped with catalytic converters to reduce particulates and VOC's, and we should demand it everywhere else. ...
SustainLaine's Ranking of US Cities by Catastrophe Risk
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 07.27.06
Few of us are willing or able to relocate based on pure environmental risk. This fundamental human trait is why people hold on to their dreams in tornado alley, on the banks of the Mississippi River, in the Gulf Coast hurricane zone, and over California’s earthquake faults. It takes more than statistical awareness or news reports to change the designs of daily life. Conversely, it’s pretty easy to whip up paranoia about natural catastrophe elsewhere, fostering the “I’d never live there! What’s wrong with those people who stay there?” view. Exceptions? Obviously, cumulative tornado incidents (as depicted in the graphic) do not shape state demographics. Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas are still growing, overall; and tornado proof dwelling standards remain a rarity. Severe drought leading to collapse of an agricultural economy is the proven exception to this rule. The Dust Bowl of the 1930’s… “singing so long it’s been good to know you”…stands in testimony to that reality. It was only in response to a complete collapse of the agricultural economy, followed by massive out-migration from the worst stricken states, that universal soil conservation practices were designed and implemented in the US....
Porous Paving: Rubber Pavements
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 07.27.06
We continue to find paving options in Azure Magazine's Material World pages. TreeHuggers will be familiar with rubber paving systems, through posts on ::Rubbersidewalks and ::Flexi-pave. Another innovative product is Flex Stone, which integrates recycled rubber with a stone aggregate topping -"a factory-applied monolithic upper wear surface permanently bonded to an integrally pedestal-supported polymeric underlayment which maximizes resilience and water drainage."- it looks like concrete but is lighter, more flexible and easier on the roof membrane. ::Flex Stone...
Call of Life: Facing the Mass Extinction: A Documentary From The Species Alliance
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 07.27.06
The Species Alliance website, opening with this riveting statement,"Human beings are on the verge of causing a mass extinction of life on Earth. A majority of the world's biologists now believe that if current trends continue, half of all species of plants and animals living today will be extinct in less than 100 years. However, the general public is almost entirely unaware of this crisis...Although we are in the eleventh hour, there is still a chance to halt or significantly mitigate the extinction. Since the human species is the cause of the present crisis, it also has the power to stop it", is producing a documentary in the manner of "An Inconvenient Truth". "Call of Life: Facing the Mass Extinction," narrated by Peter Coyote, features a stellar list of scientists. See the full trailer here. It's quite well done. TreeHugger looks forward to the full release. ...
Cool Summer Drinks
by Bonnie Alter, London on 07.27.06
There are lots of new, cool, fruity drinks around that seem perfect for a summer day and make enthusiastic claims to improve health. First is Adez, advertised in every tube and bus shelter in town. It contains a blend of fruit juices, soya protein and essential nutrients including vitamins C and B6, magnesium and calcium. When you drink a glass of it, you are getting close to 40% of these daily requirements—and calcium equal to a glass of milk. With combination flavours like orange and peach, and mango and apricot, how can it be bad? Then there is Cricket Cola, a fizzy drink, made from real kola nuts and green tea and pure cane sugar. It purports to reduce heart disease, strokes, prevent cancer, and make you calm. Grove Fresh Organic juices are made from 100% pure, certified organic, fruits and vegetables, using fresh fruit grown naturally in environmentally friendly agriculture, avoiding pesticides, fertilisers, herbicides or fungicides. They do an organic tomato and vegetable juice that could make up a killer Bloody Mary. Especially if you use UK5, UK-produced, Soil Association-certified and award-winning vodka. UK5 is made from the world's purest water and finest organic grain and could be the cleanest and purest tasting vodka around. Cheers!...
TreeHuggerTV – Green Your Shower
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 07.26.06
Pure Fun - Organic Cotton Candy
by Erin Courtenay - Madison, WI on 07.26.06
Step right up boys and girls! Enjoy the delightful sticky, fluffy, tasty goodness of organic, kosher, vegan, fair-trade cotton candy. Yep, Canadian confectioners Pure FunTM make the sweetest of sweet with air-spun evaporated cane juice and natural fruit and vegetable coloring. Pure Fun believes that candy should be an indulgence, not a dangerous undertaking. Most commercial candy is filled with bizarre and possibly even harmful ingredients. But these candy-makers are creating sweet-treats made without any genetically modified organisms (GMO's), cholesterol, transfats, chemicals, gluten, synthetic flavors or artificial FD&C colorants. Pure Fun uses only organic sugar cane grown by farmers who "green cut" the cane by hand - field burning and chemical sprays are absolutely forbidden. Their earth-friendly farmers even use crushed cane stalks to fire their boilers and generate electricity. Find Pure Fun at some Whole Foods markets or visit their website to learn more....
Convert Your Car To Run On Ethanol With New Kit
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 07.26.06
If you want to use 85 percent ethanol in your car but don’t want to buy a new flex-fuel vehicle, XCel Plus has released an adaptor kit for gasoline fueled cars. This Virginia-based company recently announced the product launch of the E-85 Ethanol FlexTek Adaptor Kit. According to the comany, once installed on a vehicle, this kit will allow the engine to operate on E-85 Ethanol or unleaded gasoline at the flip of a switch. The kit includes protection for the engine, plus a FlexTek Engine Adaptor. According to their website, the cost of the kit ranges from $500 to $700. The kit has already been used for years in Brazil. See this interview with Flextek CEO Bill Smith. :: Via Domestic Fuel...
Greenloop's Summer Eco-Fashion Sale is On Now
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 07.26.06
What's better than being a good TreeHugger and reducing pesticides use by sporting a pair of organic cotton jeans, preventing landfill overflow by toting a hip, recycled handbag and minimizing your environmental footprint in general by supporting environmentally responsible businesses? Doing it for cheap, and here's your chance. TH pal and super-sustainable retailer Greenloop's Summer Sale is on now, and with it comes your chance to to stock up on super cool, green fashion, sustainable accessories and organic bodycare. Get Loomstate denim, Stewart+Brown wrap skirts, Helen E. Riegle handbags, Inara Sugar Rub and much more, all at 10-60% off. Better hurry, though; the sale starts today and goes through Sunday, July 30. ::Greenloop...
Green Tech Will Spawn the Next Google Says Sun's Co-Founder
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 07.26.06
Bill Joy is co-founder Sun Microsystems (and is now a partner at the VC firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers). In an interview with Business Week, he said that the potential of the green technology field is enormous, and it will be where the next Google will be found....
Automotive X Prize Website Launches
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 07.26.06
Awhile back, TreeHugger mentioned the new Automotive X Prize, designed to break our oil dependence and the climate change that results from burning that oil, awhile back, and we're glad to see that they have two companion websites up and running. The Automotive X PRIZE will invite teams from around the world to focus on a single goal: design, build and sell super-efficient cars that people want to buy. The first site is devoted to provide background information and resources on the competition; the second site is a blog that hopes to use fair, honest and expert communication to voice the realities of the global automotive industry as well as challenge current market assumptions on their way to sponsoring and promoting the competition's winners. The specific rules are still in development, so until the competition launches, head over there and learn a thing or two about what might be the next big thing in automobiles. ::Automotive X Prize, ::X Prize Blog via ::AutoblogGreen...
No More Amazon Deforestation for Soya, Says McDonald's
by Mairi Beautyman, Berlin, Germany on 07.26.06
McDonald's has agreed to stop Amazon deforestation for soya farming, a huge move for this fast food giant. Used to feed chicken, soya is one of the main threats to the world's largest rain forest, according to Greenpeace. The decision comes after pressure from Greenpeace and the general public, the independent campaigning organization says. Last April, Greenpeace released Eating up the Amazon, a report that pinpoints McDonald's, as well as Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), as two of the biggest culprits in rain forest destruction (KFC continues to refuse to discuss their role in Amazon destruction, says Greenpeace). So now this soya needs to come from somewhere else. The problem: Where? Soya traders Cargill, ADM, Bunge, Dreyfus, and Amaggi have committed to a limited two year moratorium of buying soya from deforested areas, meaning, in two years, if an alternate way is not found, we could be right back where we started from. More information on soy production in Canada, the U.S., and Argentina is available here. ::Greenpeace via ::Hugg. Thanks tipster Seagull76. Related: ::The 7,000km Journey That Links Amazon Destruction To McDonald's Fast Food...
Venezuela Bans Genetically Engineered Crops
by Mairi Beautyman, Berlin, Germany on 07.26.06
Chowing down on genetically engineered food? If you live in the U.S. or Canada, chances are that is a yes. What exactly does it do to you? Now there's the gray area... The most recent country to say no to genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is Venezuela. Thanks to President Hugo Chavez Frias, these crops won't be growing on Venezuelan soil. Recently, varying degrees of these bans have been sprouting up all over the place, from California (more here and here) to European countries including Switzerland and Greece. Do they work? Well, the problem is regulation—and pressure from the U.S., Argentina, and Canada, according to a recent New York Times article. Effective this year, despite the bans, members of the European Union are required to keep their doors open to GMOs. Read more on GMOs here and here. ::Organic Consumers Organization via ::Hugg...
live|work: Service My Behaviour
by Tamara Giltsoff, United Kingdom on 07.26.06
Apple and Nike have joined together to servisize the running shoe – the ultimate product to service system shift. Now, I think this is a genius service, (for all the reasons the ipod and itunes is genius – the product is clearly wonderful, but it is the music service experience that makes the proposition winning), it seamlessly connects the product – in this instance a small pedometer that connects to your running shoe via your ipod – to the service – an online personal trainer that connects you to peer trainees (your ‘social network’ of course!). And it changes behaviours. Already 30% of my office have brought the product and are signed up for a training schedule they’ve set for themselves, inviting in others to compete or compare with their challenge. I think we could do the same for our ‘footprint’. ...
Yvon Chouinard Wins Environmental Good Guy Award
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 07.26.06
We’ve recently been asking for your thoughts on Honorary TreeHuggers. One respondent cryptically left the nomination “Yvon Chouinard” without any explanation. For those familiar with the name, none is required. But if it’s not one you recognise, let’s fill in that gap. Because he just won the inaugural award of OutDoor Celebrity of the Year. The jurors said he is renown for his “visionary business strategy and high degree of environmental awareness,” stating he is “an outstanding figure above all because of his contributions to environmental protection.” Yvon is best known as the founder and owner of Patagonia, an outdoor clothing company, with over $240 million USD in annual sales. Yvon committed his company to only using organic cotton 10 years ago, even when there was no reliable supply. They had to build the infrastructure to obtain the fabrics they needed. He was also the first to convert his line of fleece jackets to using recycled PET bottles as feedstock. We reported earlier how Patagonia are now recycling their polyester performance underwear into new clothes. These are the well known examples of how Yvon Chouinard, now in his mid 60’s, continues to put his money where his heart is, but there are many others that we’ll touch on after the fold....
NYC to Increase Recycling
by Eric Kane, New York, NY on 07.26.06
The New York City Council recently approved Mayor Bloomberg’s new (some might say overdue) Solid Waste Management Plan. Under the new plan, the city will aim to recycle about a quarter of the 12,000 tons of solid waste collected from homes, schools, and city-owned buildings per day. In order to achieve this increase from the current recycling rate of 16 percent, the city will expand the list of accepted recyclables, and implement public recycling efforts. More specifically, the city will place recycling bins in parks, subway stations, and on commercial sidewalks. The plan, which has won the support of the Natural Resources Defense Council, also calls for mandatory composting of leaves and yard waste. The city will also develop programs to ensure the proper disposal of computers, electronic equipment, and hazardous household waste....
Jerome Ringo: A New Face for a New Environmentalism?
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 07.26.06
When most people picture an American environmentalist, they probably don't conjure up the image of Jerome Ringo. A former worker in the petrochemical industry of Louisiana's "Cancer Alley," Ringo is an African-American union member and community organizer. Ringo is not just an environmentalist, though, but is also the head of one of the country's largest and richest environmental organizations, the National Wildlife Federation. Ringo's ascension to a position of leadership in the environmental community, which is usually manned (I use that word deliberately) by white men from well-to-do backgrounds, may signal a shift in the community as a whole. According to writer Mark Hertsgaard in a new article for The Nation, the traditional large environmental organizations may have recognized that their focus on issues that matter mostly to people like themselves has alienated large groups of people most likely to be affected by environmental degradation: the working class and people of color. Ringo represents a new approach to environmentalism that realizes many people find it hard to get concerned about global warming because they're not sure how they'll pay next month's rent:...
Porous Paving: Geo-Cells
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 07.26.06
More wonderful materials from Azure Magazine to deal with water run-off- Geo-cells. These are open-grid plastic systems that are filled with gravel or grassy turf. They support the weight of vehicles but let the water run through easily.
Grasspave from the appropriately names Invisible Structures, is a plastic mat that is rolled out onto a prepared bed, filled with appropriate landscaping, and you let it grow. Doesn't look like it, but it can hold up firetrucks. "Grasspave2 porous paving allows you to park, drive, walk, ride, or lounge on a beautiful grass surface. It performs the functions of asphalt or concrete pavement, but with the aesthetics of a lawn – all while enhancing the environment." They also make Gravelpave that can be used for commercial parking lots....
Grasspave from the appropriately names Invisible Structures, is a plastic mat that is rolled out onto a prepared bed, filled with appropriate landscaping, and you let it grow. Doesn't look like it, but it can hold up firetrucks. "Grasspave2 porous paving allows you to park, drive, walk, ride, or lounge on a beautiful grass surface. It performs the functions of asphalt or concrete pavement, but with the aesthetics of a lawn – all while enhancing the environment." They also make Gravelpave that can be used for commercial parking lots....
(Street) Lights Out in Essex
by Bonnie Alter, London on 07.26.06
Essex, in eastern England, is turning off its streetlights from midnight to 5 in the morning in order to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and light pollution and save energy. The council pays for most of the street lighting in Essex, which is about 120,000 lights. It argues that the 19,000 tons of carbon emissions produced every year is too much. Local Councillor Rodney Bass said: "This is an example to others to conserve energy. We encourage residents to think about the impact of their personal actions. We are thinking more fundamentally about how our policies across the council affect the environment." The bold plan is the first of its kind in the country; it will be piloted in several districts in early autumn and then extended across the suburbs. Lights will be kept on in town centres and areas of high crime. Naturally, opinion is divided with some believing that it will be a magnet for criminal activity and others happy that they will be able to see the stars once more in the night sky. Officials say they are simply setting an example. Their advice to residents who might be scared of walking on an unlit street at night: "Carry a torch”. :: Telegraph...
How To: Grill Green
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 07.26.06
At this time of year many of us go to big barbecue fund-raisers or events for our veggieburgers. When planning a big barbecue there is more to consider than just the fuel- we have mentioned before that propane appears to be better for the environment than charcoal. The San Francisco Department of the Environment has some useful tips for making your barbecue event a little greener: ...
NYPIRG: Student Activism at Its Finest
by Rose Fox, New York City on 07.26.06
We love hearing about students getting interested in activism, especially when it's environmental activism. The New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) is one of the more venerable student-run activist organizations in addition to being New York State's largest, with 21 campus chapters and over 85,000 members. NYPIRG's focus is on consumer education and government reform, with an emphasis on environmental issues. They've pushed for over 120 public interest laws and executive orders over the past 33 years and are going strong, fighting for more recycling, fewer nuclear power plants, more wind power available for consumer purchase, and less littering, to name just a few. One of their most successful spinoffs is the Straphangers' Campaign, a group dedicated to the improvement of public transit in New York City; the Straphangers have helped to get the subways cleaned up and repaired from their decrepit state in the 1970s, pushed for a shift from tokens to farecards that permit subway-bus transfers and unlimited rides, and perhaps most importantly, worked hard to make sure the public are allowed to speak at MTA board meetings and get rider and labor representatives on the board. We're seriously impressed that student volunteers (led by experienced staff) get so much done. Motivated young adults are a tremendous source of sustainable energy; it's great to see an environmentalist organization tapping into it. ::NYPIRG...
Make Money While Making a Difference
by Rose Fox, New York City on 07.26.06
Are you an idealist? You can be a realist at the same time by working for a company dedicated to helping the environment. Idealist.org is a jobsearch site geared towards nonprofit organizations and people who want to work for them. A quick search on jobs in New York City with the keyword "Environment" turned up 71 open positions ranging from a front desk receptionist for NYPIRG to a coordinator for the Wildlife Conservation Society's Jaguar Conservation Program in Mesoamerica. If you're not in NYC, don't fret: Idealist has jobs all over the world with a variety of companies that champion a variety of causes. We always encourage our readers to donate money and volunteer time whenever possible, but sometimes you've just got to pay the rent; here's a sustainable route to keeping that green roof over your head. ::Idealist.org; see also ::Find Work in a Socially and Environmentally Responsible Organization...
Xylon Bikes — Wood You Believe It?
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 07.26.06
You might think, at first glance, that Xylon is some made-up word, designed to sound modern and cool. But no, it is simply Greek for wood. Which is kinda apt, given that these very groovy bike frames are crafted from that same tree stuff. Xylon reckon if boats, bridges and aircraft [and we seem to recall the first bikes] have been made from timber then why not today's bikes? “Once a living material, even when cut, machined and shaped it retains its essential character. The sinuous grain, the micro porous texture, the warmth, all combine to define wood as a unique material. Besides its visual qualities, one has to add its excellent mechanical properties, especially flexing and shock absorption.” Aeronautical grade plywood and seasoned hardwood are combined with 'state-of-the-art adhesive' to engineer these hand-built bicycle frames, to which components from leaders in the field are affixed. The completed bikes are designed to be functional, as well as beautiful. The model names reflect the character of their shape and structure. Can you pick which is which? Cell, Klassic, Oll, Sinergia. ::Xylon Bikes, via Cool Hunter, as espied by our own eagle eyed Lloyd....
Paper Magazine: "Accountability is Sexy These Days"
by Kyeann Sayer, Nomad on 07.26.06
Yay! We're glad our readers aren't the only ones considering sustainability, ethical consumption and charitable leanings sexy. (With luck, the message will keep mutating along with trends and won't become lost to fad-dom... Or will completely transform the way we consume... But I digress!) Paper gives fresh updates on items we've covered, like Nike Considered, Product Red, Simple's Green Toe Shoe (cool but ugly, one might argue), and Brooklyn's Habana Outpost. There are a few exciting ethical projects that we haven't told you about, including the work of Argentinean Fair Trade Fashionista Mariana Cortés (pictured left). Read on over at Paper! :: Paper Magazine...
Jim Hoggan Interviews Alex Steffen, and Vice Versa
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 07.25.06
DeSmogBlog has the audio recording of a discussion between Jim Hoggan (photo on the left), founder of DeSmogBlog, and Alex Steffen, editor in chief of WorldChanging. They mostly discuss the tactics used by global warming deniers and industry shills to confuse the public, create a fake debate and - ultimately - encourage inaction, but there are also many interesting tangents. The recording is about 16 minutes long and you can download it here. See also: ::Bogota's Mayor and Climate Spin Fighter, ::The 4 Stages of Global Warming Denial...
Most Huggable
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 07.25.06
How to talk to Bush about the environment: Jean-Michel Cousteau gives a lesson in non-confrontation… As Silicon Valley gets greener and greener, Xerox dives deeper into the solar business… Grist scores some Q&A time with green jeans designer Tierra Del Forte… New satellite imagery shows a clear picture of the U.K.: hot and polluted… Northern Ireland proposes mandatory on-site renewable for all new buildings…...
Vancouver-to-Vancouver: Zero-Emission Adventures
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 07.25.06
Tim Harvey hasn't been home in over two years, and hasn't burned any fossil fuels or caused any carbon emissions in that time, either. He's attempting to circle the globe using any means of travel that doesn't result in burning oil, gas, coal or other fossil fuels to raise awareness about global climate change and promote a greener future. We originally caught up with him over a year and a half ago, when his trip was an attempt to go from Vancouver, B.C. to Moscow on human power; the idea blossomed into his current trek, on which he has endured the threat of armed guerrillas in the Columbian jungle, frostbite on the Siberian tundra and rough seas on the Atlantic on his way around the globe. He's made it to the last leg of the tour, pedaling with his brother and another friend into Mexico on his way back to Vancouver, where he left in June 2004. He's been keeping track by blogging about his adventures, and has taken some breathtaking pictures. Good luck on finishing up, Tim! ::Vancouver to Vancouver via ::Hugg...
What Electric Cars Are Available Today in the U.S.?
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 07.25.06
There's a total of two electric cars available for sale in the U.S — the NmG from Myers Motors and the Xebra from Zap!. The NmG (No More Gas) Electric Vehicle is a part car, part motorcycle. It's highway-legal and can hit 70 mph and costs less than $25,000. The Zap! Xebra is a similar electric car, just introduced this summer. The price is under $10,000. Good for going around town with a 40-50 mile range, and quick enough at 40-50 mph.
Beyond those two cars, there are quite a few electric cars in the pipeline: the high-performance Tesla Roadster and the equally powerful Wrigtspeed X1. There are also a couple of commuter electric cars in the pipeline: the Tango and the Think car....
Texas Passes California as US's Largest Wind Power Producer
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 07.25.06
Everybody knows that everything's bigger in Texas; we can add wind power to that list as well. Texas has passed California as the US's largest producer of wind energy, according to a midyear report released Tuesday by the American Wind Energy Association. Texas capacity stands at 2,370 megawatts, which is enough to power 600,000 average-sized homes a year, after adding 375 megawatts in the first half of this year. That puts Texas slightly ahead of California, the nation's leader since 1981; currently, California has 2,323 megawatts of capacity. With an interesting choice of words, Randall Swisher, the association's executive director, said "There are substantially more developments in the pipeline. We are just about where we thought we would be in terms of appearing to be on course for another industry record for the year." Texas has big plans to be home to more than just the place with the most wind energy generation capacity, according Jerry Patterson, the state's land commissioner. Patterson said he believes Texas can be an industry hub, just as it has been for oil and natural gas. It'll only help wind power continue to become as cheap (or cheaper) than conventional energy. via ::Wired News...
Midwest Food-Fest Recipe Contest
by Erin Courtenay - Madison, WI on 07.25.06
Got the gift for grub? Know how to turn a pile of zucchini into a fantastical feast or concoct a gourmet meal from forest-foraged fair? If you can approximate those "pinch of this and bit of that" directions to create a formal recipe, you just might have a winner for the annual "Food For Thought Festival" recipe contest. The festival and contest are a celebration of local and sustainably produced foods, so entries are limited to recipes that use ingredients from the Midwestern U.S. In other words, recipes for pineapple upside-down cake or avocado-mango salad won't make the cut....
Bon Santé: Paraben-Free Wholesale Beauty
by Karin Kloosterman, Tel Aviv on 07.25.06
Olive oil has been used for centuries and by the likes of Cleopatra to keep skin shiny and healthy. For those of us who don’t like to walk around smelling like a salad, sweet-scented moisturizers have been the way to go. Urgent news reports however indicate that new research on parabens, a kind of chemical used to keep creams from going mouldy, can lead to a whole host of bad diseases we don’t even like to mention in print. See Beauty’s Beast article via The Scotsman. Thanks to environmentally-friendly companies such as Bon Santé, a line of paraben-free cosmetics are destined to take some new space on your boudoir. The company sells its own line of products or businesses can buy no-name in wholesale to revamp existing lines of cosmetics. ...
Find Your Way to the Bathroom with LED Encrusted Tiles
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 07.25.06
Ceramic tile installations are meant to last a long time- We hope that LED's live as long as their reputation or this bathroom is going to look pretty silly in a couple of years. The idea of marking steps and edges with LED's is interesting; they could be a great safety feature. Steuler Tile of Germany has introduced a line of ceramics featuring LED's, primarily for decorative purposes. Available as single LED inserts or continuous strips. We look forward to LED's becoming part of the fabric of our buildings- when a light source is cool and long-lasting, why not build it into corners, stairs and doorknobs? ::Steuler Tiles via ::Trendir...
TreeHugger T-Shirt Design Contest: Get Your Entries In!
by Sean Fisher, Cincinnati, Ohio on 07.25.06
We are in the last week of our T-Shirt Design Contest, so now is the time to send us your entries. This Friday, July 28th, is the last day we will be accepting entries - so go grab a TreeHugger logo (found at the bottom of the original contest post) and send your entry to: contest [at] treehugger [dot] com. TreeHugger readers will choose the best design, and that winner will receive a $400 gift certificate from 3R Living. So, if you want your shot at the contest prize, be sure to enter by this Friday!...
The Future of Now: Biodiesel Position One
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 07.25.06
Imagine living in a time when global political instability seems the norm, peak oil is widely understood and accepted as an immediate risk, transportation alternatives are getting serious interest by investors, and governments the world over are strategizing over how to control their respective energy futures. If you think that this sounds like the present, we have a question. What one nation would be best positioned to rely on biodiesel fuel to keep their economy running? You’ll never guess. [answer below the fold]...
Make Your Own Air Conditioner, Part 2
by Bonnie Alter, London on 07.25.06
Air conditioning is a very hot topic at the moment (see Treehugger). With temperatures hitting 30 degrees outside and even hotter in buses and tubes, it is just the right time for the revival of the fan. Automated by hand, quiet, compact and energy efficient, it is the perfect,environmentally-correct cooler. Forget about those annoying battery-powered little thingies; if you dig deep enough into your cupboard you are sure to find one from your aunt’s trip to Spain twenty years ago. Folding fans originated in Japan and China; brought to Europe by merchant traders. The Victorians loved them and even developed a “fan” language to be used in courtship. A fan in the right hand, in front of the face means “follow me”. In the left hand, it means “I am desirous of your acquaintance”. Need we say more in praise of the simple fan. Via :: Guardian ...
Designing Out Waste in Specific Environments
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 07.25.06
The Royal Society of Arts held a competition this year to ‘Design Out Waste’. Ist prize went to Ian Crawford, a young product design graduate from Glasgow School of Art, for his innovative packaging and food delivery system. Ian explains that ‘the brief asked for design proposals that would minimise waste, and offered the opportunity to look at the problem from a "broader systems or holistic approach" rather than providing "merely a quick fix".’ As he says in his introduction “Our present systems are not sustainable…Any attempt at a solution has to be bold and ambitious in scope.” Ian’s winning proposal is impressively detailed and certainly ambitious in its scope. He proposes to ‘design out waste’ through a more efficient grocery shopping experience. Ordering online, delivery to the door, all food in reusable containers. ...
Penn State Engineering Students Tackle Poverty, Sustainability
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 07.25.06
The typical student in a school or college of engineering expects to study math, physics, material science and design principles. For students that belong to Penn State's Engineers for a Sustainable World (ESW), that traditional curriculum is supplemented with business and finance, cultural studies, economics and public policy. For faculty advisor and assistant professor of engineering design Thomas Colledge, such a multidisciplinary approach is necessary to show students that engineers don't just attempt to overcome technical challenges -- they try to make the world a better, more livable place....
Reader Question: So how is the planet doing?
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 07.25.06
Reader Andre needs help: "I'm part of a project that is gathering in one place all the global statistics on how the earth is doing. The project is called the "State of the World." I need help finding measures for the planet as a whole. For instance, Yale has the Environmental Performance Index, which is global in scope. And the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change tracks everything from temperature change to carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere. Terralingua is tracking something unique they call Biocultural Diversity. What are other groups tracking? What global measures are there for biodiversity, ocean health, arable land, rainforest, ice coverage, number of species, etc? If you'd like a copy of the results, send an email to aangel [at] InspiringGreenLeadership [dot] com. Thank you for helping out, Andre Angelantoni." If you think you can help, please email him or leave a comment. My suggestion? The Happy Planet Index!...
Porous Paving: Open Cell Concrete Block
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 07.25.06
One only has to step outside onto any parking lot to understand the meaning of "heat island" as pavement across the continent becomes too hot to touch. Asphalt is a fossil fuel product, it retains heat and is impermeable- a little rain and all the dirt, pesticides oil and dog crap wash into the storm sewers and waterways. Porous pavements let air and water pass through, filtering pollutants on the spot. Right now, their best feature is that they are cool. Azure Magazine's Material World section recently covered a series of options for paving that beat the heat and don't hold water. Open Cell Concrete Block is one solution- concrete paving systems designed to take the load of vehicles yet with enough open space that water can drain and grass can grow. ...
Patricio Forrester’s Cowbin and the Art of Recycling
by Paula Alvarado, Buenos Aires on 07.25.06
Here's a good way to put art to work for the environment. The Cowbin, an invention by Argentinean designer Patricio Forrester, was the star of a program embraced by Lewisham Council, Artmongers (a group of artists lead by the designer) and Source Communications to draw attention to the under-used recycling recipients by the concept “feed the cows with plastic bottles, cans, card, paper and glass”. “We are interested in how the public engages with a recycling facility that has been turned into public art -says Forrester in the Feed the Cow website-. Cows are seen as friendly animals and the principal of rumination and its production of milk are positive examples of recycling”. The public, actually, reacted pretty well: the cowbins increased the recycling amount by 62% in three months. Having seen that, the trash containers company Taylor bought the idea to give their trash bins the “cow-look” and distribute them across the UK in streets and schools. Motivated by this, Forrester opened in 2005 a company named Wonder Remedies - Artistic solutions for Recycling Industry. Find out more abut these in their websites. ::Feed the Cow ::Artmongers
Through Clarin Newspaper....
Reverb: Sustainable Interior Design
by Kyeann Sayer, Nomad on 07.25.06
Whether you're a sustainable interior design nut, or just considering giving the living room a face lift, you would have to work hard to come up with a reason not to pick up a copy of this book.
Published by sustainable design firm, Tricycle, "Reverb is an anthology of the moment." Continues communications director and book editor Caleb Ludwick, "We asked 10 writers to share their thoughts on where the interiors industry stands on sustainability in 2006, and where we should be going.”
Those writers, including TreeHugger's own Mairi Beautyman, donated their time (continue reading below to see the complete list of authors). You can absorb their thoughts from one of three FSC-certified, 100 percent post-consumer waste recycled paper options. And? 50% of the sale of each book goes to Architecture for Humanity.
So, stop obsessing about bamboo vs. cork for a sec and order a copy! :: Reverb, Tricycle...
Einride Jacket by Klattermusen. Weatherproof Cotton
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 07.25.06
A cross border European story. During WWII, Britain needed to save the lives of their RAF pilots who were ending up in the freezing waters of the North Sea. A new flight suit was designed using a specially created cotton fabric that had 30% more fibre woven in than standard fabrics. The resulting cloth was highly wind and water resistant allowing many pilots to survive their ditchings. This was 30 years before Gore-tex arrived on the scene. This remarkable cloth can be found in the UK under the brand Ventile (as used in jackets by our pals, Howies), or as Etaproof, much the same cloth, but now made in Switzerland. Klattermusen, an outdoor apparel company from Sweden use Etaproof to craft their Einride jacket. A garment which has just be recognised for design excellence at ......
Real Ecourns by Econatur
by Petz Scholtus, Barcelona, Spain on 07.25.06
We have featured Bio Urns before and as TreeHuggers we liked the idea of Martín Ruiz de Azua’s urn with the embedded tree seed and Nadine Jarvis’ Carbon Copies to hang from trees but if you actually were to purchase an ecological urn… where could you buy one? We found Econatur, a Barcelona based company that have managed to commercialise biodegradable urns.
These Ecourns are made from animal origin gelatines (not for vegetarians I guess) and arid materials which allow them to disintegrate in between 24 hours (high humidity environment) and 3 months if buried. This material however also allows for safekeeping by the family. So far you can choose from four designs: a white Ball shaped urn, the more Classic shape, a Pyramid one or the Coffer. Reasons why to opt for an Ecourn: it’s ecological (no pollution, no tree cutting, no energy used) and shows respect for the environment, it’s ethical since the ashes of the deceased become part of nature and it’s economical since you’re skipping the added cost of traditional cremation or an expensive coffin. If you feel a bit weird leaving this object out there in plain nature, check out there certificates on the product’s behaviour and conformity. So now, what category does this go under... gifts? how to? -Botanical says Warren, and adds TS Eliot: "We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring
will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time." ::Econatur...
Nau (Well, Not Quite Now, Maybe Next Year)
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 07.25.06
'beauty, performance, sustainability.' Aside from company contact details, this is as much information as you’ll get from the Nau Inc. website. But it could be a name worth remembering in 2007, when they are due to launch a line of ‘technical outdoor sports apparel and lifestyle clothing.’ From the little we can glean, it looks like they will be a retail based company, offering product that blends profitability and philanthropy. “We believe that a sustainable business has a fiduciary responsibility to its shareholders and a moral imperative to effect social and environmental change. And this is not just lip service. This belief is reflected in our mission statement, and it’s written into the by laws of our business plan.” Staff for this start-up business have been drawn from the likes of Nike, Patagonia and The Body Shop. Their motto is, “Do well by doing good.” A credo that seems evident In recent job advertisements. Take, for example, the Product Integrity Manager. A curious title to begin with. The successful applicant will, alongside the usual business background, have experience with the principles and operation of social and environmental compliance auditing [for implementation in the factories they’ll use], and exposure to the fundamentals of sustainability, as it relates to fabric and production. Sounds like one to watch. ::Nau Inc....
Cultivate In Dublin Calls For Eco-Projects To Exhibit
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 07.24.06
Cultivate is a sustainable living and learning centre based in Dublin, Ireland. Cultivate runs courses and workshops on various eco topics such as permaculture, composting and nutrition, as well having a resource centre and exhibition space. From October 11th they will be hosting their first design fortnight with an exhibition about eco-design. ‘The show will highlight the range of both international and Irish products and materials which respond to the need for more conscious living and working in an era of climate change and energy awareness.’ If you have a product or project you would like to exhibit you should send it in to Cultivate by September 1st. Selected entries will be asked to submit full details for final consideration by September 15th. Contact: Erik van Lennep, Cultivate Sustainable Living Centre, 15-19 Essex Street West, Temple Bar, Dublin 8, IRELAND, tel: +353 1 674 6396, erik@cultivate.ie. Via: o2 Group :: Cultivate...
Most Huggable
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 07.24.06
NASA bows to Bush and changes mission, no longer “to understand and protect our home planet...” Pearl Jam guitarist Stone Gossard chats with Grist about the band's environmental ethos…(also here) MIT teaches the world how to build a solar generator it can afford… In Eastern India, a shnazzy development is the site for grass-roofed eco homes... The U.K. will become home to the first government building to get wind power from the roof…...
Bishop of London: Contributing to Climate Change is a Sin
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 07.24.06
The Bishop of London has declared that contributing to climate change by flying on holiday, driving a “gas-guzzling” car or failing to use energy-saving measures in the home is sinful. Richard Chartres will emphasize that it is a moral obligation for Christians to lead an eco-friendly lifestyle, and will encourage vicars to preach more green sermons. Chartres, who chairs the bishops’ panel on the environment, said: “There is now an overriding imperative to walk more lightly upon the earth and we need to make our lifestyle decisions in that light. Making selfish choices such as flying on holiday or buying a large car are a symptom of sin. Sin is not just a restricted list of moral mistakes. It is living a life turned in on itself where people ignore the consequences of their actions.” The third most senior bishop in the Church of England, Chartres has declared his views as it prepares to publish Treasures on Earth, a booklet on environmental matters to be sent to every diocese for distribution. Among other things, the booklet will say that scientific research supporting predictions that the earth faces serious climate change is “overwhelming”. It will also detail practical ways for Christians to cut their carbon emissions, at church and at home, including trying to walk or cycle to communion. The church will also step up its efforts to cut carbon emissions, asking vicars to conduct energy audits to help individual churches reduce their carbon footprints. A similar story here in the States made a big splash earlier this year. ::Times Online via ::Green Car Congress...
Pearl Jam Talks the Talk, Walks the Walk
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 07.24.06
Our pals over at Grist have a good interview with Stone Gossard, founding member and guitarist for Pearl Jam. The Seattle-area rockers recently made news for their Carbon Portfolio Strategy, but they want to be clear that it isn't just a publicity stunt: the band wants to leverage change, make a difference and mitigating climate change. Not only is the band putting their money where their mouths are, but Gossard seems to really know his stuff. They've done their homework, and seem to really grasp not only the potential damage that can be done by spewing too much carbon into the atmosphere, but how they can best use their names, time and money to make a difference. They've gone beyond just pumping biodiesel into their tour buses, to offsetting their fans' trip to the show, to effecting positive change on a local and national level, which we love to see. One question still remains, though; is the avocado on their latest album organic? Read the whole interview (it's worth it) to get the answer. ::Grist...
Ultra-Efficient IKEA Has More in Store
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 07.24.06
To some, IKEA is the Wal-Mart of the furniture world, a big-box, buy-in-bulk retailer wrapped in the bright blue and yellow of the Swedish flag. To others, the company named in an acronym after its founder Ingvar Kamprad and his childhood home and hometown Elmtaryd in Agunnaryd, is a paragon of sustainability. The paradox is in part due to IKEA's strategy of pursuing environmental and social initiatives with hardly a thought to communicating either goals or results to the public. The company's first attempt at reporting, in 2003, followed over a decade of work on environmental actions, such as phasing out PVC (polyvinyl chloride), radically simplifying packaging, and putting together a strict environmental and social code of conduct for suppliers.
...
Solar Stadium For 2009 World Games
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 07.24.06
The main stadium of The World Games 2009 Kaohsiung will be the first in the world to use solar energy in conformity with a "green building code" a Kaohsiung city government official said last week. Lin Chin-jung, director of the Bureau of Public Works, said the stadium's spiral-shaped ceiling will have solar energy plates installed. Lin said the multi-functional stadium will be self-sufficient in electricity needs. ...
Julia Roberts Gets On The Bus
by Erin Courtenay - Madison, WI on 07.24.06
The biodiesel-fueled bus that is. The pretty woman will be helping biodiesel producer Earth Biofuels promote a program to encourage the use of biodiesel in more than 500,000 diesel school buses nationwide. A recent addition to the Earth Biofuels board of directors, Ms. Roberts will serve as a spokesperson for the eco-fuel. ''It's very important that we expand our use of clean energy and make a long-term commitment to it. Biodiesel and ethanol are better for the environment and for the air we breathe,'' Roberts said in an announcement about her new role. She will be joining current Earth Biofuels celeb board members Willie Nelson and Morgan Freeman. ::Via Hugg Photo from Vanity Fair...
There's A Coal Rush On
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 07.24.06
Energy companies are planning to build over 150 coal-fired power plants across the United States, according to a report released July 20, 2006 by U.S. PIRG and other environmental groups nationwide. This is expected to lead to an estimated 10 percent increase in U.S. global warming emissions over the next several years. The resulting 30 percent increase in coal demand “would exacerbate the environmental devastation caused by coal mining, which has already denuded more than seven percent of Appalachian forests, buried 1,200 miles of streams in fill, and resulted in the release of hundreds of millions of pounds of toxic chemicals.”...
La Playa Hemp Beach Bag by Splaff
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 07.24.06
It’s been bucketing rain here, but have heard that north of the equator it’s beach weather. Obviously perfect timing for thongs, flip flops or whatever you want to call them. And, of course, you probably considered the car tyre/bike tube/hemp ones that we previously mentioned from Splaff. But did you know that they also do other cool stuff besides? Like these beach totes (also ideal for avoiding the “plastic or paper” question when you go shopping). In true Splaff style the straps are reused bicycle inner tubes, backed with hemp. And the external pocket is similarly detailed in rescued bike rubber. The durable 14 oz hemp has been dyed in four shades, with low impact dyestuffs. $45 USD. Also available are a clutch purse, a messenger bag and a belt. Direct from ::Splaff, or from online stores like Earth Friendly Goods....
Bust Magazine Fall Fashion Issue
by Kyeann Sayer, Nomad on 07.24.06
Thanks, Bust, for making Fall Fashion about raw-materials-sparing self-expression, rather than slavish submission. The August/September issue could easily be called the “Re-use Edition.” Check out the interview with Our Lady of Vintage Conversion and Controversy, Imitation of Christ’s Tara Subkoff. Hear from Zana Akane Isutakawa who constructs her Akane Clothing from 75% re-used fabrics. For those of you who are into sewing and snail mail, find out about the Garment Remake Exchange. Learn how to alter your own clothes! And, for the adventurous, Freegan-leaning set, get tips on adorning yourself with thrown out treasures. It’s all about TreeHugging on the DL. For more re-use fun, check out our umbrella couture competition. :: Bust ...
Windance Celebrates the Beauty of Wind Turbines
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 07.24.06
We've seen first-hand the resistance that can arise from artistic renderings of wind turbines that treat their subjects as aesthetically pleasing, so we won't be surprised if we hear that English artist Emily Farncombe's Windance exhibition at the Wellington Arts Centre in New Zealand has attracted criticism from wind opponents in the country. Farncombe's multimedia exhibit of sculpture, film and photography celebrates the beauty the artist sees in wind turbines, and in a recent interview, she stated her support for a wind farm development proposed for her adopted home town. She also noted she was fine with people viewing her art work as a statement of that support:...
Converting Diesel Engines to Run on Vegetable Oil
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 07.24.06
While Lloyd may well be correct that increased production of biodiesel by DIYers could lead to "a lot of exploding garages and gummed up dead diesels along the side of the road," another option available to drivers of diesel cars may prove less frightening: using straight or waste vegetable oil. Before explaining the process, we should note that the US Environmental Protection Agency has declared the use of vegetable oil for motor fuel a violation of the Clean Air Act, and violators could be subject to a fine of $2750. If you're willing to take that risk, though, as the New York Times' Jim Norman did, you'll discover that using vegetable oil to power your diesel engine could result in significant cost savings and a lighter environmental footprint....
Seriously Getting Away From it All at Cree Village Ecolodge
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 07.24.06
You can't get much further away from it all than Moose Factory on James Bay. You take the Polar Bear Express to the end of the line and then take a boat across the river, to the lodge developed by the MoCreebec Council of the Cree Nation. Says the Star: "In an era where "eco" has become a universal brand-name tag for anything even marginally non-polluting, the Ecolodge marks a conscious decision by the local Indian community to bow to the inevitability of tourism and also to profit by it, but in a way that reflects Cree culture and values and minimizes the invasiveness of outsiders." The Cree traditionally used all natural materials, living off the land and the sea. They took the same approach here, building the resort from local cedar, pine and hickory. Everything imported is organic, from the organic sheets to the all wool carpets. Natural ventilation, clivis multrum composting toilets and biodegradable soaps carry the eco theme to the final details. ...
Trading Ads for Bikes
by Bonnie Alter, London on 07.24.06
JC Decaux, the second largest outdoor advertising company in the world, owns just about every bus shelter and piece of street furniture that anyone has ever huddled under or perched on in the rain. In 1,500 cities across the planet, their posters and billboards add to the visual pollution. In an effort to improve their reputation—and make money—they have come up with a novel, and very green, scheme. They provide specially adapted bicycles and racks to cities and in return get contracts for more bus shelters. This appeals to cities wanting to reduce congestion and traffic and make urban life more attractive. In some cases the cities get a share of the revenue from the bike charges. The scheme started in Lyon and Vienna, is moving on to Paris and Brussels, with Barcelona and Toronto in the planning....
Textile Expo Houses a Growing Eco-Friendly Contingent
by Rose Fox, New York City on 07.24.06
Earlier this month, a Treehugger delegation set out to investigate Premiere Vision New York, the slimmed-down U.S. version of the enormous textile and clothing expo held every year in Paris. We had hoped to see some new eco-friendly fabrics, but were disappointed. A number of presenters, however, proudly touted their organic cotton, and many were happy to discuss the problems and potential in bringing environmentally sound textiles to the market....
Ibero American Ecodesign Seminary coming in Buenos Aires
by Paula Alvarado, Buenos Aires on 07.24.06
It was great to hear that two major Argentinean Government organisms are setting up the first Ibero American Ecodesign seminary, to take place in Buenos Aires on August 10th and 11th. The seminary will aim not only to spread the present state-of-the-art of the activities associated with this field, but also “to generate a dialogue and multidisciplinary reflection over the experiences presented and their contribution on social, economic and environmental aspects”, the organizers say. It will also try to generate ideas and detect local and regional capacities within the field of sustainable design to share with industrials, academics, professionals of design, entrepreneurs and companies -and therefore get more people involved in the subject-. The seminary is organized by the Metropolitan Center of Design (Buenos Aires Government) along with the national Environment and Sustainable Development Ministry; another sign of the growth the subject is gaining in Latin America. Attendance is free (with registration through mail at ciplycs at medioambiente dot gov dot ar). ::Centro Metropolitano de diseño
*Buenos Aires picture through www.bue.gov.ar...
Ship Ahoy! Aboard the S.S. Solar Shuttle
by Bonnie Alter, London on 07.23.06
Earlier this week, Treehugger reported on the launching of the first solar-powered boat in Britain, so this Treehugger felt obliged to go on board for a first-hand report of this naval experience. The voyage starts in the Serpentine, a 40-acre artificial "lake", located in the centre of London. The boat is light, airy and beautiful, all teak and stainless steel, as it floats through the busy waters. Plain sailing ahead, as it rides high in the pond so lots of breeze flows through and there is a good view of the surrounding (pedal) boaters and vistas. The boat is very quiet, with a low hum, much like the sound inside an electric car. It is quite spacious and the fittings are clean and nautical with wood plank flooring and metal seating. ...
The Aspen Ideas Festival 2006: Inspired Thinking in a Surreal Setting
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 07.23.06
The Aspen Ideas Festival is difficult to describe. Joel Makower put it well, he called it “TED meets Davos at 8,000 feet.” I take this to mean that it spans just about every topic under the sun at slightly above the elevation at which reality functions normally. The town of Aspen is beautiful, safe, wealthy, and removed from most of the grittier issues tackled over the week-long marathon of panels, tutorials, and well-fed schmoozing. The Aspen community is an interesting coexistence of rugged outdoorsiness blended with exclusivity and conspicuous consumption. The army of sponsors for the Festival was also surreal enough to warrant some exaggerated eyebrow-raising (GE, Boeing, Altria, a.k.a. Phillip Morris, to name a few). But for a person looking to see big ecological issues discussed, the Aspen Ideas Festival did indeed deliver, as promised, “inspired thinking in an idyllic setting.” Hopping from session to session was like a scavenger hunt to track down as many living eco legends as possible. ...
UK Solar Supplier Angry Over Government Report
by Treehugger Interns on 07.23.06
The UK government’s recently published Energy Review has already been mentioned a few times on Treehugger. With announcements such as a phasing out of stand-by modes for electrical appliances, and supposedly increased support for renewables, it would certainly appear there was some room to celebrate. Nevertheless, massive hydro-power projects and a continued enthusiasm for nuclear seem to have many environmentalists worried. Now Solar Century, the UK’s leading supplier of photovoltaic systems, has waded into the debate, condemning the report as “very disappointing”. Amongst other accusations, Solar Century’s press release claims that much of the discussion on renewables, reported in the press as a “major new commitment”, amount to little more than confirmation of what was already promised in the February 2003 Energy White Paper. Whilst the company does acknowledge some encouraging signs, such as commitments on buildings and planning regulations, it concludes that the UK still has a lot to learn from other European countries. It seems that however ambitious the government's plans for carbon rationing might be, they'll have to do a lot more to keep some of the green community happy. [Written by: Sami Grover]...
Wildcard Creative Display Systems
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 07.23.06
“All we see is waste! Material wastage, economic wastage and wasted opportunities to do things better!” Agreed, agreed we say! Wildcard Creative are disappointed by the exhibition industry’s lack of commitment to the environment and waste management. With this problem in mind they designed a fully recyclable exhibition stand system that is easy to mount, dismount and dispose of. The system uses durable cardboard, plastic fixings and low energy lighting. ‘The core paper used to create the Wildcard components is 100% manufactured from recycled paper pulp fibres. The white kraft liner is manufactured from 90% recycled pulp and 10% virgin pulp, this is so that your print and graphics look the business as they should.’ The virgin pulp is sourced from a FSC certified manufacturer. The Wildcard system has been used by Innocent Drinks, The Soil Association and at the Observer Ethical Awards 2006. Thanks to Kate for the tip. ::Wildcard Creative...
Academics Call for Global Action on Species Loss
by Treehugger Interns on 07.23.06
Not a week goes by without another worrying headline about the accelerating loss of biodiversity worldwide. Even the much loved hippo and polar bear are now apparently on the endangered list. But what can be done to stem this threatening trend? A letter in this week’s edition of Nature, signed by 19 leading academics, is calling for a new global institution to be set up to try to halt, and even reverse this process. The letter argues that an Intergovernmental Panel on Biodiversity (IPB), which would parallel the existing Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), would help re-focus the global community’s efforts on reaching some of the ambitious targets on biodiversity that have been established by previous treaties. As Alfred Oteng-Yeboah from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the Ghanaian government's science advisory body told the BBC:
"We see [the new body] as a process to actually move the actions forward, to ensure that people get engaged in all kinds of activity that will actually halt the loss of biodiversity."
Unfortunately the letter itself does not appear to be accessible via Nature’s website, but the BBC has a very informative report here. [Written by: Sami Grover]
...
Gigaliner Transport Test on German Autobahn
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 07.23.06
Would you support a new truck which could reduce fuel use from 19 to 16 L per 1000km-ton and win 25% of road space back from the transport companies for the common man? What if it means tax dollars to reinforce two-thirds of the country’s bridges and the possibility of 60 tons instead of 44 tons bearing down on the unlucky victim of a highway accident? This is the debate which has been simmering for years in Germany. Now the so-called “Gigaliner” will get a chance to show its stuff: The German state of Niedersachsen has granted a special permission for several Gigaliners manufactured by the firm Krone to ply their trade until July 2007. ...
If You Can Bake A Cake, You Can Make Biodiesel
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 07.23.06
We have this wonderful old book, Fortunes in Formulas, that has recipes for making anything in your garage or basement, from insecticides to soaps. It is a North American tradition- the hardy, capable do-it-your-selfer who can make anything and survive anywhere. Biodiesel is attracting a lot of these types- why pay retail for fuel when you can cook it up in your garage? From the CSM:
In his two-car garage, Kevin Newman is pouring used French fry oil from local restaurants into a pair of General Electric household water heaters - his version of the giant petroleum cracking towers found at an oil company refinery. He deftly moves hoses around, scrubs the impurities from the oil, performs chemical tests, and, voilà, a week later, he is filling-up his pickup truck with biodiesel. He figures his home refinery saves him and his business, which has six trucks, about $1.75 a gallon. "If you can bake a cake, you can make biodiesel," says Mr. Newman.
We are not certain about this, but then we cannot bake a cake. Nonetheless we expect a lot of exploding garages and gummed up dead diesels along the side of the road. ::Christian Science Monitor...
Car Regos Go Eco in The Netherlands and Portugal
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 07.23.06
If you are off to buy a new car in either the Netherlands (or Portugal) this month you might be in for a surprise. You could be forking over €540 more than last month, or you might be paying €6000 less. The two countries have decided to employ the carrot and the stick approach to drive demand for vehicles which spew out less CO2 emissions. Seven classes of car have been devised in the Netherlands, with hybrids being the most favoured. In Portugal, where they’ve gone with a simpler four category system, such vehicles receive a 40% reduction in car registration taxes. The follows on from our story earlier this year of France applying eco-tags to new vehicles, that indicate the CO2 emissions per kilometre for each car. Via ::DTI's Auto Industry News. ...
Hempwood, All Natural Wood Finishing Oil
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 07.23.06
Lloyd previously alluded to this product, when he suggested you didn’t order it by mistake from Hempola’s other oilseed products, like their salad dressings. But we thought it might be worthy of its own little post. HempWood is refined from the pressed seeds of hemp flowers. It provides “a relatively clear coating which enriches and protects wood grains. The product has produced excellent results when applied to exterior walls and decks, furniture, antiques, interior floors... even canoes, paddles and as a clear lacquer on metal and painted surfaces.” It’s said to be safe for cutting boards and would you believe it – salad bowls! Hah. Once in widespread use throughout the paint and coatings industry, hempseed oil was headbutted by the double combination of marijuana hysteria and rise of new synthetics. Some have argued this was no coincidence. But that’s spilt milk. Moving on, today you can buy Hempwood Wood Finish for $12 CAD for 250 ml (8.5 oz) or $40 for 3.78 L (1 gallon). ::Hempwood by Hempola....
